Cancer 11: Epidemeology of cancer

Question 1

What is the pattern with incidence for common cancer sites?

Answer 1

in both high- income and low-income countries incidence is INCREASING

Question 2

What is the pattern with mortality?

Answer 2

it is decreasing in high-income countries but not in low-income countries

Question 3

Why is the total burden increasing?

Answer 3

-demographic changes and westernization of lifestyles

Question 4

What are the main risk factors of cancer?

Answer 4

smoking
diet
alcohol
infection
occupation
reproductive hormone

Question 5

What cancer does smoking contribute towards?

Answer 5

-90% lung cancer in men and 80% in women

Question 6

What cancer is diet associated with?

Answer 6

-colorectal

Question 7

What cancer is alcohol associated with?

Answer 7

oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver

Question 8

What is a western lifestyle and its association with cancer?

Answer 8

• energy dense diet, rich in fat, refined carbs, animal protein
• low physical activity
• smoking and drinking

CONSEQUENCES
-greater adult body height 
-early menarche 
-obesity 
-diabetes 
cardiovascular disease
-hypertension

Question 9

How many cancers are caused by infectious agents worldwide?

Answer 9

16%

25% in Africa
1/3 in Europe

Question 10

what is cancer incidence related to?

Answer 10

• age
• common environmental causes
• geographical variation and secular trends